The Legend of Grimrock
April 13, 2012 5:32 AM Subscribe
WTF Is the Legend of Grimrock? It's an old-school dungeon crawler that was released on Wednesday. It has been compared to Eye of the Beholder, Roguelike, or Dungeon Master in style. Create your party of four prisoners and try to find that gosh dang hidden button!
reviews:
reviews:
Joh Walker of Rock, Paper, Shotgun got his dad, a big fan of Dungeon Master to review it.
posted by running order squabble fest at 6:16 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by running order squabble fest at 6:16 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I look forward to not finishing it.
posted by Homemade Interossiter at 6:42 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Homemade Interossiter at 6:42 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I thought that said "Legend of Grimlock" at first and got really excited. ME GRIMLOCK!
That comes in August.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:42 AM on April 13, 2012
That comes in August.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:42 AM on April 13, 2012
In news of similar games, Spiderweb's Avenum, Escape from the Pit was released for MSWin and iPad this month, and Avadon went on Google Play. Both have large demos.
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 6:55 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by CBrachyrhynchos at 6:55 AM on April 13, 2012
I managed to avoid pulling the trigger on GOG last night, as I have a small pile of other games to get through first, including some great AAA stuff like Arkham City and Dark Souls.
Still, I seriously doubt that my resolve will last through the weekend.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 6:57 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Still, I seriously doubt that my resolve will last through the weekend.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 6:57 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
There was a time in grade school when Eye of the Beholder II was my absolute favorite game. I've never heard of this, but from the reviews it seems like it was made just for people like me.
posted by naju at 7:03 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by naju at 7:03 AM on April 13, 2012
Cool! Oh. PC only. See ya.
posted by papercake at 7:11 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by papercake at 7:11 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
You could be playing Dungeon Master right now
posted by Artw at 7:44 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 7:44 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Seems a lot like Dungeon Master. If it requires that I remember the layout of things and where to go like that game did... pass.
That said it looks quite nice.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:47 AM on April 13, 2012
That said it looks quite nice.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:47 AM on April 13, 2012
Links to TVTropes and emulated Dungeon Master? You sonsabitches...
posted by zombieflanders at 7:50 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by zombieflanders at 7:50 AM on April 13, 2012
All magic is cast by dialing a specific combination of runes. You'll unlock more spells as you level up, but in order to know what spells require what combinations, you'll have to either experiment or find scrolls throughout the dungeon.
Oh no, this again?!?
Once you master the system, casting spells mid-fight is incredibly satisfying.
Before you master the system at real life age 146 years old, casting spells mid-fight is a one-way street to certain death and a broken keyboard.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:51 AM on April 13, 2012
Oh no, this again?!?
Once you master the system, casting spells mid-fight is incredibly satisfying.
Before you master the system at real life age 146 years old, casting spells mid-fight is a one-way street to certain death and a broken keyboard.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:51 AM on April 13, 2012
Anyway, I've got to capture a commander in XCOM before I play anything else.
posted by Artw at 7:52 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 7:52 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
I should clarify that I'm speaking specifically to the casting system in DM, I haven't played this game, maybe they improved things... maybe.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:53 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:53 AM on April 13, 2012
A) It plays just like Dungeon Master and Eye of the Beholder. It is DELICIOUS.
B) However, it's a bit more advanced than DM, but not nearly as cruft-laden as EotB. There's no wondering if your off-tank frontliner is better being a Ranger or Paladin - you have Fighters, Rogues and Mages, and a selection of four races that each have specific obvious strengths.
C) It has an automapping function, with editable notes and all. If you are hardcore, you can turn this off. Once off, it won't be able to be turned back on. The game files include a printable set of graph paper templates.
D) The game will start kicking your ass early, and not let up from there. Save early, save often!
E) It's like 13.50 on GOG right now, seriously just go get it and then stay up playing until 3:30 in the morning like I just did.
posted by FatherDagon at 7:55 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
B) However, it's a bit more advanced than DM, but not nearly as cruft-laden as EotB. There's no wondering if your off-tank frontliner is better being a Ranger or Paladin - you have Fighters, Rogues and Mages, and a selection of four races that each have specific obvious strengths.
C) It has an automapping function, with editable notes and all. If you are hardcore, you can turn this off. Once off, it won't be able to be turned back on. The game files include a printable set of graph paper templates.
D) The game will start kicking your ass early, and not let up from there. Save early, save often!
E) It's like 13.50 on GOG right now, seriously just go get it and then stay up playing until 3:30 in the morning like I just did.
posted by FatherDagon at 7:55 AM on April 13, 2012 [2 favorites]
From the dad's review at paper,rock,shotgun:
I could turn off on-screen mapping. But once turned off it can never be turned on again!
Well, that's surely in the old school, let's make this a bit difficult, don't fuck around if you're not serious about this vein.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:59 AM on April 13, 2012
I could turn off on-screen mapping. But once turned off it can never be turned on again!
Well, that's surely in the old school, let's make this a bit difficult, don't fuck around if you're not serious about this vein.
posted by RolandOfEld at 7:59 AM on April 13, 2012
I was very enticed by the playthrough. So much so that I grabbed this on steam. I think my weekend shall be fun.
posted by graxe at 8:11 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by graxe at 8:11 AM on April 13, 2012
I could turn off on-screen mapping. But once turned off it can never be turned on again!
Um, that's per playthrough...right?
posted by adamdschneider at 8:15 AM on April 13, 2012
Um, that's per playthrough...right?
posted by adamdschneider at 8:15 AM on April 13, 2012
I've been enjoying this, I'm on level 5 of I think 9 so far. One thing that seems nice about it is that your characters won't necessarily be able to master more than a single skill over the course of the game, so you can go back and replay it with different builds. My only gripe so far is the counterintuitive nature of the DEX stat (which doesn't affect missile damage or accuracy, just ability to dodge).
posted by whir at 8:16 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by whir at 8:16 AM on April 13, 2012
This looks like a really nice game, yeah but it's just that I really don't like Totalbiscuit. I try and I try and I try but it's like he's made of some kind of weaponised irritant to my ears. Why won't he stop barking like that? Why does he have to constantly make all the jokes? He's like that guy in the cinema line with Woody Allen in Annie Hall to me; bleating on and on for no good reason on god's earth. Would it kill him to not know something for like 5 minutes, find out about it and then make a short, considered statement on the subject? WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM? GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.
posted by Jofus at 8:32 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Jofus at 8:32 AM on April 13, 2012
I'm liking Grimrock. I never played DM, but I played a ton of Lands of Lore, and I feel right at home.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:38 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:38 AM on April 13, 2012
I am super excited about this, it looks great.
One of the real gems in the "first-person grid-based real-time faux-3D dungeon crawl" subsubsubgenre is Black Crypt. Maybe a notch below Dungeon Master in overall inventiveness/cleverness, but much more engrossing and difficult than the EOB series. I wish Raven had actually completed porting it, I'd happily pay $40 for a PC version of it today (although the emulated Amiga version works fine).
posted by cog_nate at 9:11 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
One of the real gems in the "first-person grid-based real-time faux-3D dungeon crawl" subsubsubgenre is Black Crypt. Maybe a notch below Dungeon Master in overall inventiveness/cleverness, but much more engrossing and difficult than the EOB series. I wish Raven had actually completed porting it, I'd happily pay $40 for a PC version of it today (although the emulated Amiga version works fine).
posted by cog_nate at 9:11 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's suprising that, AFAIK, nobody has done a proper roguelike like this. I guess the puzzles are an ingrained part and would be difficult to generate.
posted by Artw at 9:15 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Artw at 9:15 AM on April 13, 2012
(from the PA review): The odds are never in your favor.
OK, I'm getting really, really sick of The Hunger Games being everywhere, but if that's what it takes to get what looks like a very slick Dungeon Master remake, then I'll deal with it.
posted by gurple at 9:17 AM on April 13, 2012
OK, I'm getting really, really sick of The Hunger Games being everywhere, but if that's what it takes to get what looks like a very slick Dungeon Master remake, then I'll deal with it.
posted by gurple at 9:17 AM on April 13, 2012
Cool! Oh. PC only. See ya.
Yeah, this is really heartbreaking for me, too. Watching that gameplay video is like being transported to my best friend's basement when I was 12. But I don't think the crappy nettop box I use for streaming movies is going to hack it, here.
posted by gurple at 9:23 AM on April 13, 2012
Yeah, this is really heartbreaking for me, too. Watching that gameplay video is like being transported to my best friend's basement when I was 12. But I don't think the crappy nettop box I use for streaming movies is going to hack it, here.
posted by gurple at 9:23 AM on April 13, 2012
Supposedly headed to iPad at some point.
Anyway! NO QUICK SAVE KEY. What gives? Easily my biggest gripe. Also, some of the combat encounters- especially in Level 2- feel under designed for the player's abilities. You just end up strafing around the room mashing hit and runs.
Otherwise, this is delicious old school action in a pretty, pretty package.
posted by GilloD at 9:35 AM on April 13, 2012
Anyway! NO QUICK SAVE KEY. What gives? Easily my biggest gripe. Also, some of the combat encounters- especially in Level 2- feel under designed for the player's abilities. You just end up strafing around the room mashing hit and runs.
Otherwise, this is delicious old school action in a pretty, pretty package.
posted by GilloD at 9:35 AM on April 13, 2012
I get that agitating for change is the only way to make it happen, but it is kind of annoying to see the OS comments in threads like this.
Anyway, you can play it on mac and linux with WINE, parallels, and bootcamp.
Forum threads:
One
Two
Three
(and probably more, since I only looked for like 30 seconds)
posted by jsturgill at 9:40 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Anyway, you can play it on mac and linux with WINE, parallels, and bootcamp.
Forum threads:
One
Two
Three
(and probably more, since I only looked for like 30 seconds)
posted by jsturgill at 9:40 AM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
NO QUICK SAVE KEY. What gives?
Probably because quicksave is god mode.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:31 AM on April 13, 2012
Probably because quicksave is god mode.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:31 AM on April 13, 2012
Quick save? QUICK SAVE? Methinks you completely miss the point of this game! Hell, I'm even on the fence about allowing the auto-mapper even if you can turn it off.
posted by Justinian at 11:33 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Justinian at 11:33 AM on April 13, 2012
I've got to capture a commander in XCOM before I play anything else.
This is the worst thing about gaming threads on MeFi. I'm not finished with that last one yet, you magnificent bastards.
posted by bonehead at 12:10 PM on April 13, 2012
This is the worst thing about gaming threads on MeFi. I'm not finished with that last one yet, you magnificent bastards.
posted by bonehead at 12:10 PM on April 13, 2012
You could be playing Dungeon Master right now
In addition to the original Dungeon Master, that page RPS links to includes a PC (and OSX and PocketPC and Linux) port of the sequel, Chaos Strikes Back. Between Grimrock and the CSB port my weekend is gone.
(By the way, after about a minute of watching the first link, I had to turn it off. You are not alone, Jofus.)
posted by cog_nate at 12:12 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
In addition to the original Dungeon Master, that page RPS links to includes a PC (and OSX and PocketPC and Linux) port of the sequel, Chaos Strikes Back. Between Grimrock and the CSB port my weekend is gone.
(By the way, after about a minute of watching the first link, I had to turn it off. You are not alone, Jofus.)
posted by cog_nate at 12:12 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I could turn off on-screen mapping. But once turned off it can never be turned on again!
---
Um, that's per playthrough...right?
Nope. It's forever, and it applies to every other game you'll play in your life as well. Hardcore mode in this game is NO JOKE.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:27 PM on April 13, 2012 [3 favorites]
---
Um, that's per playthrough...right?
Nope. It's forever, and it applies to every other game you'll play in your life as well. Hardcore mode in this game is NO JOKE.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:27 PM on April 13, 2012 [3 favorites]
I turned off the automap, and now my National Geographic atlas is missing! Also traffic signs are just blank rectangles!
posted by echo target at 12:54 PM on April 13, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by echo target at 12:54 PM on April 13, 2012 [4 favorites]
Ha ha, you guys think you're so fucking funny. I bought it and turned off automapping and now I'm blind.
posted by adamdschneider at 2:12 PM on April 13, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by adamdschneider at 2:12 PM on April 13, 2012 [4 favorites]
I learned the Darkness spell through experimentation. Now I can cast a spell which extinguishes my torch and appears to have no other effect. Hooray.
posted by Justinian at 3:31 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Justinian at 3:31 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
My late uncle wrote some walkthroughs for the original Dungeon Master for a Central Pennsylvania Atari ST user group's zine, back in the day. Me? The alternate "Kid Dungeon" was more my speed at that age.
He would have loved the shit out of this game, I certainly am.
posted by radwolf76 at 9:18 AM on April 14, 2012
He would have loved the shit out of this game, I certainly am.
posted by radwolf76 at 9:18 AM on April 14, 2012
I worked my way through Dungeon Master on my own the first time. Second time I had some text files from a Fred Fish disk -- that I picked up at Thoroughbred Computers in Topeka -- helping me along. So many secrets I encountered during the next playthrough.
(I also tried programming with the Amiga version of J from one of those disks, with much less successful results... actually, nil results. Regardless; RIP Fred Fish, long live the Fred Fish Archive!)
Oh shit, and I had a letter published in .info about the price difference between an Amiga 500 and some more-or-less-similarly-specced Mac. Sheesh, what a baldfaced believer I was in my adolescence. Around ten years after that I said to myself, "I should have spent that money on Apple stock." Now, around twenty years later I think, "Fuck that Apple stock noise, my Amiga 500 was awesome and I had a blast messing around with DeluxePaint and making 3D logos of me and my friends' "production studio" with the illegal copy of Imagine I got from my fantastically nerdy and altogether wonderful chemistry teacher Mr. Trask (our comic was "MensaMan!" starring my high school math teacher in transvestite BDSM getup -- artist: Chad P.; text: yours truly) and printing out terrible smartass adolescent zine stuff."
Seriously, I love this post and the comments within with a white hot intensity both for the nostalgia factor and to see that the folks at Almost Human -- who most likely had the same Amiga (or Atari ST) experiences as I did growing up -- produced something awesome that I can download and experience now and now that I have done all my gardening and beer kegging and bee hive prep and honey-dos and whatnot today I am firing up Legend of Grimrock and see you all on the other side G'BYE!
posted by cog_nate at 4:02 PM on April 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
(I also tried programming with the Amiga version of J from one of those disks, with much less successful results... actually, nil results. Regardless; RIP Fred Fish, long live the Fred Fish Archive!)
Oh shit, and I had a letter published in .info about the price difference between an Amiga 500 and some more-or-less-similarly-specced Mac. Sheesh, what a baldfaced believer I was in my adolescence. Around ten years after that I said to myself, "I should have spent that money on Apple stock." Now, around twenty years later I think, "Fuck that Apple stock noise, my Amiga 500 was awesome and I had a blast messing around with DeluxePaint and making 3D logos of me and my friends' "production studio" with the illegal copy of Imagine I got from my fantastically nerdy and altogether wonderful chemistry teacher Mr. Trask (our comic was "MensaMan!" starring my high school math teacher in transvestite BDSM getup -- artist: Chad P.; text: yours truly) and printing out terrible smartass adolescent zine stuff."
Seriously, I love this post and the comments within with a white hot intensity both for the nostalgia factor and to see that the folks at Almost Human -- who most likely had the same Amiga (or Atari ST) experiences as I did growing up -- produced something awesome that I can download and experience now and now that I have done all my gardening and beer kegging and bee hive prep and honey-dos and whatnot today I am firing up Legend of Grimrock and see you all on the other side G'BYE!
posted by cog_nate at 4:02 PM on April 14, 2012 [3 favorites]
I think I'm going to start over and redo my skills. I was putting points in a bunch of different magic trees, for example, and I think I'd rather concentrate on one or two. And I'd rather have my rogue go dagger melee with reach assassination than missile weapons. I can have my mage do the range damage with the ice tree if I need ranged.
Also I want to try casting darkness spell and sneaking up on monsters to stab them. There must be a point to this spell besides extinguishing my torch.
posted by Justinian at 9:39 PM on April 14, 2012
Also I want to try casting darkness spell and sneaking up on monsters to stab them. There must be a point to this spell besides extinguishing my torch.
posted by Justinian at 9:39 PM on April 14, 2012
Oh, fuck, I really did just buy it...
posted by adamdschneider at 1:27 AM on April 15, 2012
posted by adamdschneider at 1:27 AM on April 15, 2012
justinian, I am thinking of doing the same. I'm about half-way through the game right now and this new mob is fucking me up. I think my problem is that I've got a party member that basically does nothing because I didn't specialize them. At first they were going to be a front-line defender, but it turned out my rogue was much better at being in the front because they could avoid all damage.
I'm thinking my new crew will be:
Rogue Assassin - Human Warrior
Minotaur Rogue Ranged - Bug Caster
Does anyone know how food works? I keep running out of food. Can I reduce food consumption by carrying less gear? Is there a potion I can make that will feed my people?
posted by rebent at 12:33 PM on April 15, 2012
I'm thinking my new crew will be:
Rogue Assassin - Human Warrior
Minotaur Rogue Ranged - Bug Caster
Does anyone know how food works? I keep running out of food. Can I reduce food consumption by carrying less gear? Is there a potion I can make that will feed my people?
posted by rebent at 12:33 PM on April 15, 2012
No to both those questions as far as I can tell. There is a skill in the Athletics tree which reduces food consumption by 25%. I'm grabbing that for my Minotaur. I never had much of a problem with food until I started over; in fact the biggest problem I had was that all the food I was carrying weighed so damn much I kept having to shuffle my inventory around.
posted by Justinian at 4:21 PM on April 15, 2012
posted by Justinian at 4:21 PM on April 15, 2012
As I understand it, when your hunger bar is in the red, resting won't heal you. So, to stretch your food, don't eat if your bar is yellow or green.
posted by radwolf76 at 5:39 PM on April 15, 2012
posted by radwolf76 at 5:39 PM on April 15, 2012
I've read in the official forums that you consume food faster if you're encumbered, and also that minotaurs consume it faster.
posted by whir at 10:08 PM on April 15, 2012
posted by whir at 10:08 PM on April 15, 2012
I keep finding all these plants, but not enough glass jars to do anything with them. Any tips on that problem?
posted by rebent at 9:52 AM on April 16, 2012
posted by rebent at 9:52 AM on April 16, 2012
I keep a couple of potions of healing and a potion of energy on hand, and simply replace as needed. Since the ingredients stack it's not a big deal to stockpile.
posted by Justinian at 3:28 PM on April 16, 2012
posted by Justinian at 3:28 PM on April 16, 2012
I'm starting to have extreme difficulty carrying everything I feel I need to carry because of the encumberance system. What a wonderful respite from the typical "I'm carrying seventeen different sets of full plate armor in my backpack".
posted by Justinian at 2:52 PM on April 18, 2012
posted by Justinian at 2:52 PM on April 18, 2012
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